Natalie Portman Voices Disappointment Over Female Director Exclusion at 2026 Oscars
Academy Award-winning actress Natalie Portman has publicly criticized the 2026 Oscars for the glaring lack of female representation among the Best Director nominees. Speaking at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah on Saturday, January 24, while promoting her new film The Gallerist, Portman emphasized that this issue reflects broader systemic barriers women continue to face in the film industry.
Portman Highlights Overlooked Female-Directed Films
In an interview with Variety, Portman pointed out that many of the year's most acclaimed films were directed by women, yet they were largely ignored during awards season. "So many of the best films I saw this year were made by women," she stated. "You just see the barriers at every level because so many were not recognized at awards time."
She specifically referenced several female-directed films that garnered audience appreciation but missed out on accolades:
- Sorry Baby
- Left-Handed Girl
- Hedda
- The Testament of Ann Lee
"Extraordinary films this year that I think a lot of people are enjoying and loving, but are not getting the accolades that they deserve," Portman lamented.
2026 Oscars Best Director Nominees Breakdown
This year's Oscars feature only one woman among the Best Director nominees:
- Chloé Zhao for Hamnet (the sole female nominee)
- Josh Safdie for Marty Supreme
- Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another
- Joachim Trier for Sentimental Value
- Ryan Coogler for Sinners
Notably, Hamnet is also the only film directed by a woman among the ten Best Picture nominees, further underscoring the gender disparity in major categories.
Systemic Challenges Beyond Awards Recognition
Portman explained that the obstacles for women in film extend far beyond awards season. "Even when you pass the barriers of getting your financing, which is harder, getting into festivals, which is harder. Every step of the road is harder, and then you're out and it's great, and then it also doesn't get the attention," she observed.
She concluded with a call to action: "We have a lot of work to do still."
The Joy of Female Collaboration in Filmmaking
Despite these challenges, Portman highlighted the positive aspects of working with other women in the industry. "But joyfully, with a lot of joy, working with each other," she described, calling it "a very special process to be in community with women on set."
Portman recently collaborated with director Cathy Yan on The Gallerist, a film that also stars Jenna Ortega, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Sterling K. Brown, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph. This experience reinforced her belief in the power of female-led creative partnerships.
